RE: You shouldn't ride a Motorcycle. Especially in Winter
Ok first i wanna say, don't take the things i'm about to say to hard because i didn't think your opinion to be bad - everyone deserves an opinion - and there are facts that you can't ignore.
So i'll start with the fact that motorcycle riding is more dangerouse than driving a car, but you have to remember the bad road conditions in israel, the stupid drivers and the bad methodic driving culture. Also i'm a big safety fan. i never ride without a helmet, carbon plated riding gloves, knees protection and a leather riding jacket with back, shoulder and elbow hardened plates. Safety first!!!
Riding is a culture, it's more than a hobby it's food for the soul, something the father you saw must have shared with his daughter. I would agree that it was a bad choise of a day to do so but nevertheless if you are extremely careful you can have an uniqe experience that most folk won't. I can tell you from first hand experience that in Europe, Canada and the Usa it's a whole different story. Most of the motorcycles which is brought to israel hasn't been designed for our country and/or road conditions, a fact that for itself increaces the accidents amount. So to conclude, i hope you won't be so hursh to judge us motorcycle riders next time we meet, and remember always to check the mirrors to aviod an accident with us riders because like you said we are more vulnerable so car drivers should also be extra careful.
I understand that riding a motorcycle is more than a "tool" to get you anywhere you want but it's passion, most of the people I know who ride a motorcycle says it's a passion and they can't live without it even tho they did some accidents that caused breaking something.
I'm not judging, I just think it's not as safe as cars, especially in winter.
For me its more than a passion, it's the true essence of freedom. And in the matter of safety you shuld know that the statistics rate of accidents is much much higher in accidents invoving pedestrians who cross the road in a crosswalk and get hit by cars than any motorcycle involved accidents.